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Otago Witness, Issue 3899, 4 December 1928, Page 3

What must Ixt the most expensive mail matter ever brd.igl L to New Zealand was delivered to tfie postal authorities at Auckland when the steamer Golden Cloud T-rivod from Los Angelos on Wednesday. The vessel brougl i two bags of letters, anil for their carriage across the Pacific Ocean the owners, the Oceanic and Oriental Navigation Company, received £2866 from the American Government, or £1433 a bag. The Golden Cloud is t.\n second of the company’s steamers to deliver inail from Los Angeles at Auckland under a new contract entered into with the American Government last September. The subsidy is at the rate of 10s a nautical mile, and the contract seems to be proving very expensive, for towards the end of last month the Golden Bear brought only 67 bags of. mail to Auckland from Los Angeles. These were delivered at a cost of about £43 a bag. Cargo steamers between America and New Zealand always carry mail if required, but at poundage rates according to the weight of the mail. Had the two bags brought by the Golden Cloud been carried on this basis the total cost would have been only a few shillings.

The losses due to the slump in values of land and stock are alleged to be the causes of one of the largest failures in Poverty Bay for some time (says a Press Association telegram from Gisborne). The bankrupts are David ©aidwell. William Aitken Caldwell, and Thomas Hunter Caldwell, sheep farmers at Tolaga Bay. The bankrupts’ financial statement to the deputy official assignee showed liabilities amounting to £102,674, while the £otal assets arc £47,208, all being in the hands of secured creditors, to whom is owing £89,220. Debts totalling £13,454 are owing to unsecured creditors, leaving a total deficit amounting to £55,446. Mr Arthur T. Walden, who is in charge of the dog tfe-ams which will accompany the Byrd Antarctic experition, has been presented by Sir E. H. Gibson, F.Z.S., with a buck-horn whip-handle, which he will take with him tef the Antarctic, and, on his return, will no doubt retain as a cherished souvenior of his visit to Dunedin. The handle, which is five inches long, is exquisitely turned and polished, and aitirely by Mr Gibson.

“ There is one point we manufacturers must continue to force on the Government, and that is the necessity for a permanent tariff “committee which shall be available at all times to investigate, adjudicate upon, and settle anomalies in proposed new tariff duties,” said Mr A. W. Beaven in his address to the annual meeting of the Canterbury Manufactuers’ Association. The committee could consider even abolishing protection on the lines that were not being manufactured in quantities tlTat the public needed. “At present we know nothing of how the tariff regulations are arrived at. Influences are brought to bear of which nothing is known until a decision is given and the matter settled. Officialdom is acting behind closed doors. “ The tariff committee sitting with reporters and those interested would’ prevent changes that are important to other sections.”

A touch of humour was imparted by the dignified moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly when referring to the fact of the proceedings being broadcast at a large missionary rally in the Auckland Town Hall (says the Star). Professor Hewitson told his audience that since coming to Auckland he had on the previous evening been broadcast for the first time. “It reminded me,” he said, “ of the first occasion on which I prayed down an ear trumpet.— (Laughter.) I had the utmost difficulty—l say it with reverence —in remembering to Whom I was speaking. If I had not forgotten the machine when speaking at St. David's, I don’t know what would have become of me." I am not forgetting it now, for the item I have to announce will be of very great interest to the listeners-in. It is the offertory.”—(Renewed laughter.)

In an address on the New Zealand ;• risen system to members of the Hainilt m Rotary Club Mr B. L. Dullard, ts. utroller-general of prisons, said that C e criminal was essentially an individualist, and selfishness, in his opinion, wr-s one of the root causes of crime. The er-unple of self-sacrifice and service provided by the Rotarians who visited the Ba-’stal Institutions, particularly, was an “eye-opener” and a challenge to many of the inmates. The productive employmeiA of prisoners in New Zealand last year resulted in a saving to the taxpayers of £70,000 in the cost of prison maintenance. Greater attention was now given to the after-care of prisoners by the forint tion of voluntary committees in the main towns to help men who had served sentences to rehabilitate themselves. Excellent work had been done in this direction, but there was still a great field for effort, particularly with cx-Borstal lads.

In th' course of his speech at the civic reception to. Commander Byrd and other members' of the Antarctic expedition. Flight-li> utenant Ross Hughes, of the Otago Ajro Club, said that to-day the club was the proud possessor of a ground for an a prodrome.— (Applause.) Owing to the nature of the country round Dunedin it ha I been a matter of great difficulty to fil'd a suitable ground on which to build t n aerodrome. Some months ago the ad 'isers of the club secured an option over what would be a very suitable piece \f ground, and that day a public-spirited citizen had secured that property on behalf of the club. — (Applause.) Dunedin had been truly called the Edinburgh of the South, and he might say that its citizens had in no small measure lived up to the traditions of the great north. He felt sure that Mr Charles Todd had done the club a great service and had. earned the deep gratitude not only qf the club, but of the citizens of Dunedin in providing that ground. — (Applause.) He felt sure that in time to come it would be second to none iu New Zealand. The club trusted that ot.\w public-spirited citizens would come foxward now, and in some tangible form show their interest in civil aviation in .Zealand. The aim of the club was to receive any plane that visited the Dominion.

The rate.Zrft mental valuation of the city portion oi Sv large area known as Auckland City i; 3,583, according to the latest figurtf, '.XipjJied to the Auckland Electric .Vo’?? ’Wrd by the Valuation JXj^rtmeal the Star). Grey Lynn i» J,uf.d a* f?,CB , / J 27, and Parnell at a over f£C,OOO less. The valuation 9ft j-ypsoin is £2,839,697, Remuera £5,335,818, Tamaki £1,804,088, Avondale £1,182,444. Arch Hill, Eden Terrace, and Point Chevalier do not exceed six figures in valuation, and Orakei is set down at only £40,220. The total valuation of the Auckland electric power district is i £73,537,262. This, of course, embraces the s large boroughs, the valuation of whick has not increased appreciably*

Advice received from Australia states that owing to the late arrival of the Bt.eamer Trelyon at Melbourne from Mediterranean ports, the transhipping of cargo consigned to South Island ports could not be carried out in time to place the freight on the Manuka. The Trelyon brought a large shipment of dates, and this portion of the freight consigned to Dunedin will be forwarded by the steamer Karetu from Sydney. The dates should reach the local market about the second week in December.

At the meeting of the City Council last week, Cr Shacklock stated that a few weeks ago the residents of Berwick approached the Electric Power and Lighting Committee with a view to as many; councillors as possible making an inspection of the Waipori River when it was at a high level. The committee had asked the residents to name a day for an inspection, but the engineer had r ’ (1-nt ho should ask the councillors to fix a day for themselves. They h .. il.e residents of Berwick were somewhat divided on the question, and it was difficult to get them to fix a date. The engineer suggested that the inspection be made at 11 a.m. next Tuesday, and he (Cr Shacklock) would like to know how many councillors could make the trip. A .councillor: “ Can you arrange a flood?” Cr Shacklock: “We can arrange for water for a demonstration with a moderately high river.”

New Zealand mails which were despatched from Auckland on October 24 by the Niagara for the United Kingdom, via Vancouver, arrived in London on November 26.

“ This synod resolves that the Government be urged to ablish the system of compulsory military training, as a practical expression of its co-opcration in the matter of disarmament. Recognising the value of discipline to the younger people of the Dominion, we recommend the substitution of compulsory physical training instead of the military system now in operation ” was the text of a resolution passed at the Auckland Methodist Synod (states the Auckland Star). Another resolution expressed the opinion that the laws relating to military training should make provision for exemption from training and service on the ground of individual religious conviction.

His Honor Mr Justice has granted probate in the estates of the following deceased persons:—Annie Hunter M'Swan, of Clyde (Mr Harlow); Adolphe Coleman Court, of Dunedin (Mr F. G. Duncan); Edward Moritz Theomin, of Dunedin (Mr G. Gallaway); William Smeal, of Dunedin (Downie Stewart and Payne); Winifred Harris, of Hampden (Mr G. Gallaway). His Honor has also granted letters of administration in the estate of Mary Jane Pero, of Portobello, Mr Stephens appearing in support of the motion.

Mr G. Fowlds (chairman of the Massey Agricultural College Council) has received information that Mr A. C. Rowson, of Tooley street, London, will make a donation of a scholarship at the college for a dairy factory manager’s course, of the value of £25 a year, tenable for three years, contingent upon satisfactory progress being made each year by the student.

Probate was granted on Tuesday of the will of Mr Edward Theomin, of this city. After making various bequests and provision for the testator’s wife, who has a life interest in the estate, the will provides that the whole estate shall be vested in the Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Company for the formation of a Theomin Trust, the proceeds of which shall be applied to charitable and educational purposes. Some alarm has been caused amongst the Natives by the discovery that kuineras containing the boring grub have been imported from Fiji and sold in Gisborne. The kumera represents the staple crop of the Maori population, and the introduction of the pest would be a serious matter. Commander Byrd will carry with him on his polar dash a memento of Captain Scott, the story of whose deeds first implanted in Commander Byrd’s niind the thoughts of polar exploration. It is an engraved pen, with the lettering: “Robert Falcon Scott, from the Polar Legion.” It was intended by the Polar Legion, a small body of fewer than a dozen men, all of whom have done something worth while in polar research, to present this pen to Captain Scott, but this could not be arranged at the time, and the gallant Englishman never returned to receive the gift. The legion thought that it would be fitting if Commander Byrd were to take the pen with him on his present expedition, and so Lincoln Ellsworth, who crossed the North Pole with Amundsen and who is president of the legion, placed

it in Commander Bryd’s hands before he left the United States. If the Dominion’s tourist traffic was properly exploited a revenue of £10,000,000 could be brought to the country annually, optimistically declares a bulletin issued by the New Zealand Tourist League, of Auckland. “At present,” says the bulletin, “ 10,000 people bring in about £1,000,000 of new money. This business is the most profitable which the Dominion could develop, as the payments of visitors help the primary and secondary industries as well as the railways, service car companies, hotels, shops, etc. American visitors spend £200,000,000 in Europe each year, and Canada gets £80,000,000 annually from the same source.” Why should not New Zealand with its incomparable scenery and remarkable sport opportunities, get more of this golden stream of wealth? the League asks.

The Mayor has many callers, some seeking assistance, other airing grievances, others merely wanting to talk, not taking

into account the interviews and consultations essential to the transaction of the city’s business. But now and again there j are really bright passages. The other afternoon (says the Post) a deputation of Indian resident called on Mr Troup, and, presumably, he settled down to hear more “ representations.” The spokesman wasted no time, but announced that they had called to ask him to accept, as from the Indian residents of Wellington, contributions amounting to £lB Os 6d to the Art Gallery and Museum Fund. The Mayor thanked the contributors warmly, remarking that he had not expected the donation; did they wish the contributions acknowledged as from individuals? From the Wellington Indian Association, said the spokesman; the Indians were very pleased to be able to help, and, he continued, “ I wish to say that any time you have a fund for a good object the Indian Association will help.” “ I am very pleased,” replied the Mayor; “it comes I with all the greater surprise because it | has been unsolicited. We have now had ' subscriptions from many of the national i groups —the Greeks, Syrians, Dames, Chinese, and others. It all shows the right spirit. I wish you to convey the thanks of the Mayor, the council, and the committee to all who subscribed.” The closeness of political parties recalls the 1914 elections, when the fate of the Government appeared to rest upon the vote of the Maori member for the North, Mr Tau Henare. Neither of the two larger parties knew how this vote was to be cast, and several enterprising pressmen interviewed the member in question. He was delightfully vague to all. To one reporter he said, when asked how his vote would go: “I give you two guesses.” To another scribe who put the same question his reply was: “Wait until the karaka berry is ripe ”; and to a third he said: “First I stand on one leg and then on the other.” Tau (says the Auckland Star) is a good-natured Native, always smiling, and his avoirdupois is an ever-increasing factor. It is related of him that when he stood for Parliament he was selected by a meeting of wahines, as the men could not agree on a candidate, after arguing for a fortnight. For a brief time Tau loomed largely in New Zealand political life, and was assiduously wooed by all. So close were the parties that one vote, even that of a Maori, was vital, and an election petition alleging certain irregularities was filed against Tau in an endeavour to unseat him. He came out of the ordeal unscathed, and when Parliament settled down he had occasion only to stand on one leg, as he voted for Reform and has given it his allegiance ever since. At the concluding session of the primary schools’ swimming championships’ meeting last week, the chairman of the Otago Education Board (Mr J. Wallace) announced that word had been received that day from the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Swimming Association that Otago had created, a new record for the nmpber of schools which had gained the association’s certificate. The previous record, also set up by Otago, was 58 schools, which this year had been bettered by one.

A somewhat remarkable phenomenon is being noticed in the Rotorua and Taupo lake districts —the steady rise in some of the lake wafer levels. Rerewhakaitu Lake during the past four or five years has risen about 12 feet, and even during the driest part of last summer fell only about three feet below its abnormal height. This rise has caused some loss to the property owners near the lake shores, for portions of the low-lying pastures have been submerged, with a certain amount of fencing. On one property substantial stock yards have their lower rails under water. It is said that Rerewhakaitu has only to rise a little more when it will find an outlet over the intervening land into Rotomahana, which is about 40 feet lower than Rerewhakaitu, and if this takes place Rotomahana would probably rise until it overflowed into Tarawera. It is not anticipated that this would have any serious consequences, as the rise would be gradual, and Tarawera has a good outlet. The cause of the rise in Rerew’hakaitu is believed to be due to the gradual silting up of the underground outlet. The Maoris of Tokaanu declare that the level of Lake Taupo is now permanently some feet higher than formerly, and some of their old potato ground is now covered with water. The metalled road to the Waihi dairy factory has been submerged for some time. They have petitioned the Government to deepen the channel at the outlet of the lake, which they assert has been blocked with sand thrown up by the southerly winds. They claim that the deepening of this channel tfould permit the reclamation of nearly 0000 acres of swamp land at the southern end of the lake.

Owing to the obscurity caused by banks of clouds, the beginning and middle of the eclipse of the moon were not at times clearly visible to the naked eye in the city on Tuesday evening. Later, however, although flying clouds marred the effect to a considerable extent, the pehumbral eclipse was to be seen.

A boy digging in a Portobello garden recently made an interesting find that seems to forge a link with the early days of Otago. The relic is a copper token a little larger than a halfpenny, having engraved on the face a kangaroo and an emu, the word “ Tasmania ” and the date 1855. On the reverse side is inscribed “ Lewis Abrahams, Draper LiverpoJpf street, Hobart Town.” Though the metal is somewhat discoloured, the inscription is very distinct, indicating that the curio had lain undisturbed for a long period. It is suggested that vessels plied betw'een Hobart and Dunedin more frequently in those days, and that perhaps this article was brought over by one of the sailors ■who ’found it convenient, when deserting at Port Chalmers, to slip across to the security of the bush-clad Peninsula. ■

Advice has been received by the local tourist office that Atlantic salmon in Lake Te Anau are very numerous this season, and with few exceptions are in excellent condition, giving good sport. Anglers have secured good baskets right from the commencement of the season.

Rongotai Rock, the one solid protuberance on the Lyall Bay Reserve, has had to be demolished in order to remove an obstruction from the airport area (states the Dominion). This rock was at one time spoken of as a possible grand stand for the new sports area to be created thereabouts, but time brings changes, and one of them is the diversion of the area mentioned from a sports ground to an aviation field. The rock, which has long been a landmark at Rongotai. was under-tunnelled last week and on Saturday some 12001 b of explosive was fired within it. There was no spectacular display as a consequence, but on examination it was found that nearly the. whole of the rock had been well enough shattered to make its removal easy. The rotten rock, of which it was composed, will be hsed to surface the sandy levels in its vicinity.

“ lhe Government is now beginning to realise that New Zealand-made goods are as good as the imported,’’ states the organiser of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr E. 11. Marriner) in his annual report. He adds: “It is gratifying to know that a number of our members have been successful in securing a large number of Government contracts during the past year.” lhe City of New York is a fine example of old craftsmanship. From the hand steering wheel at the stern, to the doublings of the masts, and right forward to the lever windlass at the break of the forecastle head, the old order of things remains as in the days when reliability was paramount. Of course drift-ice and crunching ice floes also operate in the old-fashioned way, too, and precautionary measures are still indispensable Nowhere is that precaution more noticeable than in the case of the standing rigging. The shrouds are not attached to the chain plates by the modern m v -tal riggingscrews. The attaching medium is the oldfashioned four-strand lanyard rove through lignum-vitae dead eyes, The tarlaid lanyard is not liable to fracture under extreme change of temperature, and is therefore regarded as more reliable than rigging screws. Faulty rigging screws were supposed to be responsible for the loss of the full-rigged four-masted ship Iris, which on her maiden voyage was never heard of after she left the Clyde for the west coast of South America.

“Vte feel that the happy results, in < the shape of the projected refresher * course, that have resulted through the co-operation of our association and the Royal Sanitary Institute of New Zealand, may lead many of our members to consider the wisdom of adopting some permanent means for providing better educational facilities for sanitary inspectors and other health workers,” states the Review, the official journal of the New Zealand Sanitary Inspectors’ Association. “ The Department of Health has shown that it is alive to the necessity of a welleducated health personnel if the work is to go forward as it should. The time has arrived when the various organisations existing for the educational welfare of health workers should get together and, under the guidance of the Health Department, formulate some scheme for combining their efforts to promote the educational welfare of the health workers of New Zealand." The refresher course for sanitary officers has been fixed to commence on January 29, and to finish on February 9.

An appeal to young pebple to take an active interest in church activities was made by Archbishop Averill at Papatoetoe recently. “ You are the ones who will benefit by what has been done before. It is for you now to assist in the work,” said his Grace, addressing a congregation that consisted largely of young church members. Continuing, he suggested that the building of a new Anglican church at Papatoetoe was an effort in which youth should co-operate. An attractive building was proposed to replace the existing church, which was formerly on a site in Station road, and had been removed about seven years ago to the present location in Landscape road. With the growth of Papatoetoe tie church had become inadequate for the needs of the district, and it was hoped to launch the new scheme next year.

The following bequest to public institutions are included in the will of the late Mr Robert Hay in whose estate probate has been granted:—Plunket Society, Dunedin branch (endowment fund, Kari-tane-Harris Hospital), £2500; Otago University (endowment fund Medical School library), £2000: Salvation Army (Dunedin Corps), £1000; Presbyterian Social Service Association (endowment fund, Ross Home), £2000: James Powell Convalescent Home (Warrington), £1000; Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society, £l5OO.